Since settling in Glasgow in 2009, Moses has become an active and much loved member of his community. Since his detention, his friends have been deeply worried about him, and hope that he will be released and allowed to continue his life in Glasgow. 

Moses started college in 2009, studying for an HNC in computing, where he met his girlfriend, Annie*, who is now training to be a nurse. Moses wanted to continue studying computing science at university but hasn’t been able to do so, because of his immigration status. Despite this setback, Moses has made a life for himself in Glasgow; as a devoted member of his congregation; the Glasgow Living Waters Church, as a keen sportsman, and a volunteer at African Caribbean Centre. Moses has played for the semi- professional rugby team Cartha Queen’s Park since 2009, after meeting their coach whilst playing in a youth league in Govanhill, as well as playing with the Glasgow Falcons basketball team.

Moses came to the UK in 2008 to receive medical treatment for an eye condition, but claimed asylum following the escalations in violence during the elections, described by Amnesty International as an “unprecedented wave of state-sponsored human rights violations”, and the collapse in public health and service provision, which left over five million Zimbabweans were in need of food aid by the end of the year.

Although there have been some improvements in the five years, this year’s disputed elections show that Zimbabwe is still a dangerous and volatile. It is unclear if the situation will worsen – with threats of further sanctions from Europe and fears that the country is on the brink of a new political crisis, it is clearly not a safe country to force people to return to. According to the BBC, not only are political strife and repression commonplace, but “poverty and unemployment are endemic”. Moses has lost contact with his family in Zimbabwe, and does not have any social links or support networks there – if he was forced to return he would be totally alone in a dangerous country with no means of supporting himself.
Moses’ health has deteriorated since being detained as he has been denied access to the treatment he needs following a corneal transplant. He needs to see his consultant but the Home Office have refused to release his from detention to attend appointments. The doctors in the detention centre have been unable to provide the specialist treatment he needs, and if the situation continues, Moses risks losing his sight.

Moses must be released from Dungavel immediately and allowed to return to Glasgow where he belongs. His life is at risk in Zimbabwe, where he faces not only the danger of being persecuted by government forces, but also the threat of generalised insecurity and crippling poverty in the country, and his health will also be threatened by the lack of medical treatment available for his condition.

Send a letter to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, and if you can, include a copy of your passport or some other form of ID. You can use the template letter below or write your own - the more personalised the letter the better so if you know Moses well please write your own letter if possible.

If possible please email info@unitycentreglasgow.org to let us know you have sent letters!

Thank you! UNITY!

 Join the facebook campaign: https://www.facebook.com/groups/196681707179230/

* Not her real name